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Suns players to go easy on Christmas cheer

Gold Coast

All Gold Coast players may want for Christmas is a break from a gruelling pre-season schedule, but coach Guy McKenna doesn't want his Suns taking things too easily.

McKenna believes his squad is "about two weeks" ahead of many of their AFL rivals going into the Christmas break after an intense pre-season aimed at improving his young team's ability to contest physically during matches.

That's why Suns captain Gary Ablett is going to inform his teammates not to be too merry over the next fortnight and threaten to relinquish their hard-earned advantage.

McKenna said the two-time premiership winner will address players before they break up at the end of the week to emphasise the importance of not taking things too easily away from the scrutiny of the club's coaches.

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"Our scouts say a lot of the other clubs have been a bit cautious, possibly gentle even, leading into Christmas," McKenna told reporters on Monday.

"Gary Ablett's going to talk the group at some stage and over that break it might be a mental break if you like but it's not going to be a physical one.

"If we are one or two weeks ahead of some of the other teams, let's stay ahead of them."

McKenna said he's feeling no extra pressure following the club's public statement that they want to win a premiership by the end of the 2015 campaign.

He says the statement by chairman John Witheriff is not out of line with his own ambitions and if the club isn't moving forward McKenna will be the one held accountable.

"I think we were 0-8 and I got re-signed," he said.

"I'm pretty much a logical person and understand the game well enough that if we're 0-8 come the next contract re-negotiation, I don't think I'd be here.

"The boys understand the job's on and they're certainly relishing the challenge."